Analyst group Sterne Agee has shifted its expectations for the release date of Rockstar's upcoming Grand Theft Auto V, stating that the game is now more likely to launch at the start of next year than later this year as previously thought.

The group had previously stated that it believes the highly anticipated next in the GTA series will launch in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, just before Christmas. However, Bhatia has now stated that a March 2013 release is more likely.

The analyst has even noted that a March release would be more beneficial for the title, as it will then launch in a less crowded window away from the next installments of Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed.

He also suggested that a 2013 release will leave the potential for a Nintendo Wii U launch for the game, while giving Rockstar more time to polish up the final product.